Coin-controlled dice machine



July 9, 1935. B. D. SMITH COIN CONTROLLED DICE MACHINE Filed April 13 m N N E R V m M T 1. A W B A WWW u m a: m. w m m w m G n m In M5? WE u. w 1 Vi? u.

m m W k July 9, 1935. y B D. $M|TH 2,007,259

COIN CONTROLLED DICE MACHINE Filed April 13, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 9,1935: '7 i 2,007,259

' UN TED STATES A N I E i 7 2,007,259 I COIN-CONTROLLED DICE MACHINE Blanchard D. Smith, New Orleans, La., assignors" i by mesne assignments, to Mills Novelty Com- "pany, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application April 13, 1932, Serial No. 605,024

20 Claims. =(o1. 273-142) My invention relates to coin operated apparatus Fig. 4 shows'the hand for returning a pair of 3 such as vending machines and the like, and more dice to its compartment in a plan View.

particularly to such machines as'employ novel Fig. 5 shows a segment of the wheel containing mechanical features to stimulate trade and inthe compartments of the dice. l 5 terest in the. article vended. It often happens Fig. 6 is an elevation showingthe path of the 5 that coupons or cheap advertising novelties are Wheel rotatably mounted on its crank whichin given away as trade stimulus such as a small turn rotates one-half a revolution during theoppackage of matches with the purchase of oigaoration. This is to more clearly show the innorettes and my machine is particularly adapted tions of various associated parts.

- for such use withthe added interest'of an element Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are detailed'views of the indica- 10 of chance entering into the securing of such adtor and its associated parts. vertising' novelties as may be used to promote Fig, 10 is a sectional elevation thru the main sales. g a shaft showing the flange used to actuate certain 'It also relates to games such as parchesi in levers and parts.

whichan element of chance enters into the prog- Fig. 11 is a plan view just beneath the'cover 15 ress of eachcontestant and is especially adapted showing ade l f h ejec r lever and its asfor such games as'would require the indication sembly. l a and registration of the result'of thethrow. 0f the Fig. 12 is a sectional elevation thru, the dice dice (where .dice' are used as the elements of table and its transparent cover.

chancelfor future reference or action. The de- Fig. 13 shows a sectional elevation thru the 20 vice may also be used for the playing of simumain-shaft looking towardsthe operating handle. ,lated baseball or .like games, the difierent plays Referring more particularly to said drawings, being indicatedbythe numbers on the dice-prein which like numerals of reference indicate like sented to view upon successive operationsof the parts throu 5 indicates b m machine.- box enclosure which has four sides 2 and a bot-- 25 Heretoiore various devices have been used in tom 3. The cover has alarge opening lsituated the prior art to mechanically throw dice out upon above the dice table 5. Another opening 6. '(rea table upon the insertion of a coin or otherwise ferring to- Fig. 1) lies above an indicator 1 and a.

. but the result of the throw in no way afiected the 7 slot 8 is provided for the insertion of a coin for 301 present or future mechanical action thereof and operation. 1 I one of the objects of my invention is to provide A handle 9 is employed to actuate the machine a simple means for leaving the throw of the dice and turns one-half revolution in so doing. Re-

entirely to. chance and yet allowthe machine to ferring to Figs. 2 and 3 the handle 9 is rotatably indicate, register or otherwise act upon the result mounted in one of the sides Z'and has rigidly fas of the throw either presently or upon a later tened toitself acast member iii. A coin-operated 35 throw. lever I I is adaptedto lock and unlock said mem-v Another object ofmy invention is to [provide a ber H] by the insertion of a coin in the machine,

machinein which the dice are ejected freely upon and opposite thereto is a connecting rod l2 con a table as in an ordinary way and seemingly in necting the crank lever I3 for rotation of the ver-,

40 ahaphazard manner and yet wherein the result tical shaft M. A lever l5 portraying a human 40 of the throw, namely the two top numbers visible hand is fastened to said shaft'lito slide the dice to the player or manual operator, is in accord from the table 5.

with mechanical actions'of'the machine desired. A projecting'lug I6 on the cast member ID as a resultof such a throw. 7 a bears against a pin I! (see also Fig. 13) pressed I'employ forthis purpose asmany sets of dice thru the main shaft l8 for rotation thereof said 45 as are neededto represent the various combinashaft is being rotatably centered within a hole tions of throws and arrange these in comp'artin the handle 5. 'At the end of the projecting lug ments ina "positive manner as desired and for' I6'is a screw stud l9 threading a pawl adapted, a full description of the machine further referto engage two grooves 2| out into the hub of the encemay be had to the drawings, in which; flange member 22, said flange bein'g'fr'eely mount-'1' 50 Fig. l isa plan view of the assembled machine. ed on the main shaft IS. A spring 23 is employed Fig. 2 is a larger vplan view with the top re. between said flange member 22 and'said pin l1 moved. i l of sufficient strength to slide said flange member i Fig. 3 is a vertical section thru the center of the along said shafti s machine. I. l

A pin 24 is rivetedfoutwardlyonto saidiflange and is adapted to engage first a main push lever employed to deliver the bottom vended article 25 from its stack thru a suitable opening into the exterior cup 27. Secondly said pin 24 is adapted to either engage or not engage the coupon or prize lever 28 likewise employed to deliver a bottom prize article 29 from its stack into said cup 21. The main lever 25 is guided in a stud post 29 attached to the bottom (see Fig. 10) and the lever 28 is held by the fulcrum 39 rotatably supported by the L-shaped member 3|. At the lower end of the fulcrum 39 is the lever 32 which is the one that pushes the prize from its container. Springs not shown are employed for returning said levers to their original positions after movement by said pin.

Integral with said flange member 22 is an eccentric cam which actuates the ring 33 to an upper and lower position. Adjacent thereto a bearing post 34 attached to the bottom of the machine is used to support the main shaft i8 which is firmly connected to the crank 35 which holds at its outer end the crank sleeve 36.-

Before the insertion of the coin the crank is down 180 degrees from the position shown. Rotatably mounted on the crank sleeve 36 is a bushing sleeve 3'! pressed into the compartment wheel 38. 7 Many teeth 39 are cut into the projecting end of the bushing 31 (see also Fig. 6) and engage in its bottom position a ratchet member 49 rotatably secured to the bearing post 34 and held in engaging position by a spring member 4| bearing uponits top side.

A brake shoe 42 is flexibly held by a flat spring 1 43 which is screwed to the back side 2 of the box and the spring 43 is arranged to engage said shoe forcibly with the wheel 38 when the crank is radially disposed toward said shoe in its travel. Firmly attached to the wheel 38 is a toothed wheel 44 Whose teeth correspond in number and position with the compartments 45 cast integral into the outer rim of the'wheel 38.

A guide plate 46, extending from top to bottom of the box and attached thereto, holds at its upper portion the mouth 41 of the dice table 5, said mouth being disposed exactly opposite the final stopping place of any compartment after rotation and locking. The compartments are brought and locked into said final stopping position by the lip of the spring member 48 engaging.

the teeth of the wheel 44 at the final travel of the crank. The spring member 48 is riveted to said guide plate 46, which also serves the purpose of keeping the dice within their compartments as desired.

Threading thru the crank sleeve 35 is the shaft 49 whose end nearest the crank holds a spring 50 and a washer 5| riveted thereto at its end. Its other end is firmly riveted to the indicator wheel 1 but the shaft continues at a smaller diameter to support the rotating roller 52 held in place by the collar 53 and cotter pin 54. A round pointed with the axis of the main shaft l8 upon extension thereto. Held by the pin 59 (see also Figs. 7, 8 and 9) and a' further pin 69 is a disc 6| with a portion cutaway at its. top to allow the passage therethrough of the roller 52. One side of said openingfsee Fig. 9) is out at an angle for thrusting engagement to an outer position upon engage met therewith by said roller. Holes 62 are drilled into the indicator wheel 1 at a radius equal the crankradius and coincide with in number and position the compartments in the wheel 48 when the pin or stud 55 lies in thehole 56 and upon the looking of the wheel with such engagement 2, hole 62 lies exactly opposite the point of the pin 59 for entry therein. The lower extended member of the L-sliaped arm 51 is connected by a rod 63 to the eccentric cam ring 33 for movement therewith.

. and shown in section supports a pointed pin 61 actuated by a spring 68 both of which lie within a drilled hole and the pin bears into slots cut into the flange of the member lever 69 is connected to the hand lever I5 thru a stud 1B and is used to actuate the ejector rod 64 as follows. A pin 1! which secures the rod 64 extends below and a slot 12 in the lever 59 is guided thereby. Two springs 13 are attached to the lever 69 by studs 14 and their other ends thread small lugs cast onto the member 65.

Their tension is almost sufiicient at maximum to release the flange from the pin 6'! and upon the slot positively striking the pin H and disengaging pin 6"! from its notch the ejector rod 64 snaps forward or backwards as the case may be;

Referring to Fig. 4 the dice table 5 is provided: with two guiding strips 15 and 15, the latter disposed as an arc with its center at the axis of the shaft l4. Referring to Fig. 13 a spring member 11 is screwed to the side 2 just beneath the Above the dice table. and fastened to the top is a transparent cover lip of the coin lever ll.

18. An extension of the arm on member 51 carries a wire member 19 attached at its upper end to the coin lever H thru a' slotted hole (see Fig. 13).

In operation a coin is inserted in the slot 8 and after being tested by various means old in the art (and not shown) it falls on the lever H I and raises it slightly from engagement with the notch in member 19 which is 180 degrees from the positions shown. This permits the handle 9 to be rotated counter-clockwise towards the op erator thru one-half turn. Its projection :5 carries the main shaft 18 with it by bearing against the pin l1. Upon rotating, the pawl 40 engaging the teeth 39 spins the wheel in proportion to the speed given the handle at starting (see Fig. 6). Said wheel 38 is brought against the brake 42 as the crank rotates and stops its spinning. Near the end of the cranks travel the spring member 43 enters between the points of the teeth in the wheel 44 and thereby brings the wheel 38 and its top compartment 45 into a center position relative to the mouth 4'! of the table 5.

During this operation the connecting rod 92 has rotated (thru the arm [3 and shaft l4) the arm [5 to its outer position as shown, and the arm I5 has by the lever 69 brought tension on the ejector rod 64 to snap it forward. The ejector passes thru the opening at the rear of the dice compartment and throws the dice therein out upon the table 5. Two guide strips and 16 prevent their leaving the table and the trans- It serves to partially lock said flange from rotation. A flat cannot turnover since the covers height above the table is less than. a diagonal thru the dice itself; The same effect may be obtainedby causing such movement of the dice inthe compartments in which theyfare carried'without ejecting them-onto a table. The compartment is likewise a rather confined space'for the dice so that the'dice once placedin .thecompart ment with two desirednumbers on t-op'may'ncver be able to turn over and therebychangeits reading when viewed from above.

The indicator wheel-1 has. printed upon its outer rim numbers or symbols which correspond with the setting of the'dice in'their respective compartments and these coincide when the stud pin 55 lies. in the'rnatchedhole. 56 drilled ,inthe hub of the wheeliw. It is in such a position at p the start when the coin is inserted, and therefore indicates thru theo'peningt. in the top (which lies just forward of. the ejector rod 64) a number corresponding with the throw of the dice onto the table which operation has just been desribed above.

During this time the flange member '22 has not moved since the pawl is designed to rotate it only upon the reverse motion of. the handle by the operator (or a spring suitably used for such purpose). The pin 24 at this momentis 180 degrees. from the positions shown in the drawings and upon the return of the handle it engages the lever 25 ,to push. the vended article I 26 frombeneath its stack into the cup ZLand at the sar'neftime the eccentric ring 33 has moved to its downward position rotating slightly the arm" 5?. This arm 5? pulls wire member '19 to prevent the coin lever locking the member IO-so that the handle may be operated once more without the insertion of a coin. Simultaneously the arm Slhas brought the pin 59 towards the wheel 38 and the pin 59 enters a hole 62 in the indicator wheel l (as shown in Fig. 7)

During the return of the handle 9 the main shaft it has not turned and the wheel 38 is still held by the ejector rod '64 and the spring arm 48, however the arm i5 has been rotated by therod i2 andreturns the diceinto their :empty compartment and at the end of said movement of arm i 5 the ejector rod 54 is. pushed by the dice and the lever 83 out of engagement with-the wheel compartment. The dice are guided by the strips 75 and 16 and a thumb projecting on'the hand it is used to prevent their jamming by forcing one ahead of the other at the mouth 41. This action is completed just prior-to the handles complete return, the wire connecting rod 12 fieX-" ing slightly under'the continued movement of the handle. The projection l6 on member Illstrikes the pin I! and since the ejector rod 64 is out of the way the crank assembly returns by gravity or a suitable spring to its bottom positionf again.

As the crank 35 starts downward from its: top 1' to bottom center position with the {ejector rod' 6 1 out of the way, the spring member 48, still engagingthe bottom slot of a tooth on the wheel 44, travels with said wheel 44 for a short distance approximately equal to the distances between adjacent compartments inthe wheel '38; .This engagement keeps the wheel 38 from rotating so 7 that said wheel moves merely in practically-horizontal travel at the'top of the arc. Simultaneously thecrank sleeve 36holding the shaft 49 moves the indicator wheell-whichfmust rotate the L-shapedmember 5? to bring the inthe axis of the main shaft I8. For any an- 7 gularmovementpf the crank sleeve 36 the indicator wheel I must likewise rotate the same angle relative to the true vertical.

This gives an angular movement'between'the wheelfifi and. the indicator wheel 1 at the beginning of travel and this angular travel equals the rotative travel of the'crank 35. This travel forces the tapered pin from its socket within thehole 56 at the starter travel and so positions the roller 52 (see 7, '8 and 9) outwardly from the wheel 38 that it strikes against the angular lip cut into the disc 6! and upon further travel causes it to move even further outwardly as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 9. In'this position which it retains during the continued downward and return stroke of the crankBii, the pin 55 is out 1 of engagement with the wheel 38 and the spring 59 (held by Washer 53) is in its maximum compressed position. The spring 59 is materially stronger than the spring 23 whose function is merely to slide the flange member22 along the mainshait l8 which it does upon the said compression of the spring as described above.

Likewise in this position of the flange member 22 the pin 2 is inwardly disposed relative to the lever 28 and unable to engage same.

Upon the return of the handle 9 a new spinning is imparted to the wheel 38 similar to that described on the initial stroke and said wheel 38 again reaches top center and a locked position through the engagement of. the spring member 48 and by chance it may have stopped with the same-compartment uppermost as upon the initial operation of the'handle 9 or, as most likely has happened, it will present a different compart-' ment with its resultant throw of the dice upon the table. Should the throw be identical with the original'throw then by necessity the pin 55 would coincide withthe hole 5% and, upon the roller 52 reachingv the opening in the disc 65, the shaft 49 with its assembly would move inwardly to the depth or the hole 55. Inthis position the shaft 49 impels' through its spring 5% and washer 5! the flange member 22 along the shaft is and positively places the pin 24 into engaging position with the lever 28 as seen in Fig. 10 which'it', actuates to deliver a prize upon the return strokev v of the handle 9 in its final operation.

During the second stroke of the handle 9 the indicated throw of the dice (shown as a. six in Figs. 1 and 2) disappears below the opening 5 through the rotation and downward movement of theindicator wheel i but of necessity returns at the uppermost travel of the cranktii to the original indication, namely a six. This is due to the continued engagement during such. time of the pin 59 within the hole 52 to return the indicated six back to its uppermost position beneath said hole 6. Upon the last stroke of the handle 9 the flange member 22 in. rotating ,itil degrees actuates through its eccentric cam andring 33 in 58 and disc 6! out" of engagement with'the indicator Should, however, the second throw of the dice be other than the original throw, then the pin 55 would not coincide'with' the hole 5% in wheel 33 and the shaft $9 could not move inwardly of sufiicint distance to actuate the age -m'ember 22, (as described above) so that the pin 2s might thereby engage the lever 'ior delivering a prize, As a result no. prize is given upon thafinal stroke of the handle. 9.

It is essential however, upon the final stroke of said handle, that the indicator wheel, I be brought into coinciding position with the wheel 38 by the pin 55 resting in its hole 56 as this is its starting position upon the insertion of a coin for a new vending operation. Referring to Fig. 8, this is accomplished in the following manner. The pin 55 in its outward position as shown (upon the final stroke of the handle 9) is still adapted to engage the hole 62 slightly since the pin 55 does not lie within its socket or hole 56 and upon the downward travel of the crank 35 a rotary motion is imparted to the wheel 38 by its striking the brake shoe 4:2 and in an opposite direction to the rotation of the indicator wheel 7' and the crank 35. This rotation between the wheel 38 and the indicator wheel 7 will eventually bring the pin 55 to coincide with its associated hole '5 and the spring 55] will immediately act to engage s id pin into said hole forcefully and simultaneously result in the release of the pin 59 from engagement with the hole 52 through this inward movement oi the indicator wheel assembly. In this final position the indicator wheel I is free to rotate with the dice wheel 38 and coincides Y with it relative to the indication printed on the outer rim of the indicator and the throw of the dice as positively arranged in their respective compartments.

To permit the second throw of the dice without the insertion of another coin, the rod '59 attached to the arm 5? pulls the coin lever ll (see Fig. 13) downward during this second throw to prevent its locking engagement with member ID in the notch (shown 180 degrees from said latching position). The spring member Ti serves the purpose of preventing the dropping of the coin until the member ID has been rotated during which action the raised lip on member ii) further rotates the coin lever I I to permit the release of the coin.

Many variations could be employed in my invention such as having the opening 4 in the top immediately over the compartments 45 with suitable openings therein so that the dice may be viewed therein without ejection therefrom. Also pins could be placed on the wheel 44 to actuate various mechanisms upon the arrival of certain lucky numbers and such variations would lie Within the scope of my invention which I have shown in its preferred'form only.

What I claim is:

1. In a dice game device, a plurality of sets of dice positively arranged to represent the various combinations capable of being thrown, compartments capable of holding each set of dice as arranged, means for bringing singly and by chance a set of dice to the view of the player, and means for confining the dice when brought into view within a space the depth of which is greater than the perpendicular but less than the diagonal dimension of the dice, whereby the dice may be caused to spin and wobble thereby simulating, in effect upon the eye, the normal action of dice when thrown.

2. In a dice game device, a plurality of sets of dice positively arranged to represent the various combinations capable of being thrown, compartments capable of holding each set of dice as arranged, means for bringing by chance a compartment into a locked position and means for ejecting the dice from said compartment onto a table and beneath a transparent cover.

3.In a dice game device, a plurality of sets of dice positively arranged to represent the various combinations capable of being thrown, a wheel containing compartments capable of holding each set of dice as arranged, means for spinning and locking said wheel, and means for bringing in its locked position a set of dice to the View of the player.

4. In a dice game device, a wheel containing compartments capable of holding each a set of dice positively arranged in various combinations and capable of being spun and locked, an indicator with numerals'or symbols in accord with said arrangement of combinations adapted to register the result of a spin of said wheel.

5. In a dice'game device, a wheel containing compartments capable of holding each a set of dice positively arranged in various combinations and capable of being spun and locked, an indicator with numerals in accord with said arrangement of combinations adapted to register the throw of a set of dice, and means for holding said registration during a subsequent throw of the dice.

6. In a dice game device, a wheel containing compartments capable of holding each a set of dice positively arranged in various combinations and capable of being spun and locked, means for registering the throw of a set of dice from its compartment, means for holding said registration during a subsequent throw, and means for releasing said registration by the repetition of the original throw.

7. In a dice game device, a wheel containing compartments, a set of dice arranged in each compartment and incapable of turning over, a table upon which the dice are ejected, and a. transparent cover so arranged above said table as to permit the free ejection of said dice Without permitting their turning over.

8. In a dice game device, a wheel containing compartments capable of holding each a set of dice positively arranged in various combinations, means for spinning and locking said wheel in a set position relative to the spacing of said compartments, and means for confining the dice when brought into view within a space the depth of which is greater than the perpendicular but less than the diagonal dimension of the dice, whereby the dice may be caused to spin and wobble thereby simulating, in effect upon the eye, the normal action of dice when thrown.

9. In a dice game device, a plurality of sets of dice definitely arranged to represent various combinations, said dice being normally hidden from view, means to expose by chance one of said sets of dice to view while maintaining the definite arrangement of said sets of dice, said dice being movable, and means for confining the dice when exposed to view by said last-mentioned means so that they cannot be turned over but may be moved to simulate .a random or uncontrolled action as if thrown by hand.

10. In a dice game device, a container having a plurality of compartments, a plurality of sets of dice located in said compartments, said dice being definitely arranged to represent various combinations, 2. table located in proximity to said container, means to throw by chance one of the sets of dice upon said table, and means to return said set of dice to its compartment in the container while maintaining the definite arrangement of said sets of dice.

11. In a dice game device, a container having a plurality of compartments, a plurality of sets of dice located in said compartments, said dice beingdefinitely arranged to represent various combinations, 2, table located in proximity to 

